Fifths to anton lutz and george muth



(No Model.) j 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. SOHON. APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

No. 541,794. Patented June 25, 1895.

mil I ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 2 SheetsSl1eet 2.

H. SCHON. APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

No. 541,794. Patented June 25,1895.

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TNE NORRI PEIERS co, Pnorcuumu. WASHINGTON. c

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NiTEn STATES PATENT OETtoE.

HUBERT SCI-ION, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FIFTHS TOANTON LUTZ AND GEORGE MUTH, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VES'SELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 541,794, dated June25, 1895.

Application filed March 6, I895.

seen No. 540,732. (so model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERTSOHON, of Allegheny, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and ImprovedApparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels, &c., of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide 1 a new and improved apparatusfor raising sunken vessels,submerged articles, materials,

&c., in a very simple and effective manner.

The invention consists principally of a marine vessel having a two-parthull, with the parts placed a suitable distance apart and rigidlyconnected with each other overhead by a framework, and hoisting devicessupported in the said vessel and arranged to engage the sunken vessel,to raise the latter into the space between the two hull parts.

The invention also consists in certain parts and details, andcombinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described andthen pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement, with parts in sectionand a sunken ves-.

sel raised. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig.3 is a cross sectionof the same, on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig.4: is an enlarged sideelevation of the hoisting devices with parts in section. Fig. 5 is anend elevation with part in section. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same;and Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the brake for thehoisting device on the line 7-7 in Fig. 3.

The improved apparatus for raising sunken vessels and other submergedobjects, is provided with a marine vessel A, having its hull made in twoparts, viz: a prow section A and a stern section A, placed a suitabledistance apart so as to form a free space to receive the vessel to beraised, as hereinafter more fully described. The two hull parts A and Aare rigidly connected with each other overhead by a suitable frame-workA as plainly indicated in the drawings. The hull parts A and A supportat their adjacent ends the cranes B and B respectively, adapted to swing0biiquely from the hull parts to the sides thereof, as plainly indicatedin Fig. 2, so as to stand with their outer ends over the vessel to beraised.

j The cranes B and B carry the grappling devices 0 andfG respectively,both alike in construction,and'adapted to be raised and lowered by thehoisting chain E, forming part of each crane B, or B. The grapplingdevices O and C are adapted to engage a sunken vessel D, at the sidesthereof, as plainlyindicated in Figs. 1 and 2, at the time the ,grappling devices are lowered to the sunken vessel, with the marine vessel Astanding at right ang es to the sunken vessel D, directly over the'same,as indicated in the drawings.

Each hoisting chain E of each of the cranes B or B is provided at itslower end with two branch chains E and E connected with the ends of thearms F and F respectively, fulcrumed at F on a bracket F through whichpasses loosely a rod G, forming part of the gripping devices for thegrappling tongues F and F forming extensions of the arms F, Frespectively. The rod G is provided at its upper end with a cross arm G,in which are secured two downwardly-extending pins G and G adapted toengage loosely apertures in the connecting rods H and H pivotallyconnected with the arms F and F respectively.

The free ends of the said rods H and H are fitted to slide inguidewaysI-I and H respectively, pivoted on the arms F and F respect.-ively. Thus the rods H and H extend from their respective arms F and Fhorizontally or approximately so, to the arms F and F respectively. Now,as long as the pins G' and G are in engagement with the said rods II andH, the grappling arms F and F are held in an open position, as indicatedin Fig. 4, but when the grappling device 0 or C is lowered and the lowerend of the rod G strikes the deck of the sunken vesselD, then the pins Gand G are withdrawn from the rods H and H, and consequently the weightof the grappling devices F and F causes the latter to close, as the armsF and F are now unlocked owing to the withdrawal of the pins G and G Thegrappling hooks F and F nowengage the hull of the vessel D, as indicatedin Fig. 1, and when the chains E E are raised by the windlasses on thecranes, the sunken vessel D is carried within the grappling devices, andconsequently raised to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, thesunken vessel D passes into the space between the adjacent ends of the,hull parts A and A At the time when the grappling devices G or C arelowered, I attach to the cross bar G and the rods H and H, a light cord1 carrying a float I preferably in the shape of a ball filled with air,as indicated in Fig. 4. Now when the rod G strikes the vessel, it breaksthe cord I between the cross bar G and the rods II, II, so that thefloat I is liberated and quickly rises to the surface ofthe water, thusindicating to the attendants on board of the vessel A that the grapplinghooks F and F have closed upon the vessel D.

In order to prevent the cranes Band B from swinging out of their obliquepositions, as shown in Fig. 2, in case of a rolling' sea or othermovement of the vessel A, I provide a brake-band J for the verticalshaft of each crane B, B. See Figs. 3 and 7. NVhen the vessel D israised to the position shown in Fig. 1, then the vessel A, either by itsown machinery and propelling mechanism is moved to a landing, dock, orother place where the vessel D is to be delivered, or the vessel A ispropelled or moved forward by tugs or other marine vessels.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. An apparatusfor raising sunken vessels, comprisinga vessel provided with a prow section, astern section spaced therefrom,an overhead connection between the said sections, and a hoisting devicefor raising the sunken vessels into the space between the said twosections, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels, comprising a marine vesselhaving a two-part hull, with the parts placed a suitable distance apartand rigidly connected with each other overhead by a suitable framework,two cranes held in adjacent ends of the said hull parts, grapplingdevices held on the hoisting chains of the said cranes, and a lockingand tripping device for holding the grappling forks of the saidgrappling devices in an open position during the time the grapplingdevices are lowered, and for automatically releasing the grappling forkswhen striking a vessel, substantially as shown and described. I

3. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels, comprising a marine vesselhaving a two-part hull, with the parts placed a suitable distance apartand rigidly connected with each other overhead by a suitable framework,two cranes held in adjacentends of the said hull parts, grapplingdevices held on the hoisting chains of the said cranes, a'locking andtripping device for holding the grappling forks of the said grapplingdevices in an open position during the time the grappling devices arelowered, and for automatically releasing the grappling forks whenstriking a vessel, and an indicator for indicating the engagement of thegrappling forks with a vessel, substantially as shown and described.

4. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels, provided with a grapplingdevice comprising pivoted forks, arms extending thereform, rodsconnected with the said arms, and pins engaging the said rods and heldon a slidable bar, substantially as shown and described.

I-IUBERT SCHON. \Vitnesses:

W. F. WErrERsHAUsEN, MATHIAs STUERRI.

